willhines.net

This is a “Greenstreets” area down the block from my apartment. Sometimes when I walk by it in the morning I feel sorry for it, because it’s such a small amount of dirt and trees in the middle of a huge concrete plain, and yet someone still planted a sign proudly stating “Greenstreets” in the middle. Is it worth doing so little, when it risks ending up looking so pathetic? Is it like walking into the middle of 19th-century style coal factory and installing a single compact fluorescent bulb to conserve energy? Or installing an air bag on a space shuttle?

But I guess that’s part of the Greenstreets program — incremental gains all over a monumental city should add up to a big difference. So I can respect this little triangle (TRIANGLE! Not even a SQUARE) of dirt as part of its greater mission. But I feel like the area I have photographed deserves the entire pyramid-shaped area — we don’t need that sidewalk there. Where do I sign? Whom do I sue?

| Tags: greenstreets, nyc